Pistons 98, Wizards 94

I know Flip Saunders said that he was most disappointed after the Wizards lost to the Toronto Raptors on Friday, but what happened on Sunday in Auburn Hills, Mich., was borderline shameful. At least the Raptors have an all-star power forward in Chris Bosh and Hedo Turkoglu, who was a borderline all-star the past few years in Orlando.

The Detroit Pistons basically had Rodney Stuckey, who is pretty good but nothing special yet, Charlie Villanueva, and a bunch of role players. Seriously. Their starting lineup was Stuckey, Chucky Atkins, Ben Wallace, Jason Maxiell and Jonas Jerebko. Not to belittle those guys, because they are earning checks in the NBA, but the Wizards shouldn't get schooled by that outfit.

The Pistons were also playing without Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince and Ben Gordon -- who scored 29 points when the Pistons beat Washington three weeks ago at Verizon Center -- was limited to about 12 minutes because of a sprained left ankle.

What does it say for the Wizards that Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison were both outscored in the fourth quarter by Jerebko? And Jerebko scored one point.

Arenas played one of his most baffling games of the season. He scored four of the Wizards' first six points and appeared to have a favorable matchup against the defensively-challenged Atkins. But he was inactive and ineffective most of the time he was on the floor, finishing with eight points, taking just nine shots. He showed none of the aggression he displayed the past three games. He certainly wasn't close to being the player who scored 34 points against Toronto on Friday.

Asked why he seemed out of it, Arenas explained how picking up two fouls killed his rhythm then added a bizarre excuse. "The building was cold," he said.

At least Arenas was moving the ball around. He finished with a game-high nine assists. But get this, the other four starters -- Jamison, Caron Butler, Nick Young and Brendan Haywood -- had zero assists, with eight turnovers. Arenas joked afterward, "I'm trying to figure out how I got nine assists."

Jamison had his second consecutive poor shooting night, connecting on just 4 of 14 shots. In his past two games, Jamison is 8 for 30. But Jamison grabbing just two rebounds was even more disconcerting about the game against the Pistons. When Jamison isn't hitting the glass, he either isn't playing with the proper energy level or he's spending way too much time away from the basket. It was a little of both on Sunday, as he again settled for three-pointers. He shot 1 for 5 and is 2-of-12 from beyond the arc the past two games. Is the right shoulder taking too much of a pounding inside?

Arenas and Jamison were both scoreless in the fourth period, going 0-7 from the floor.

I'm not sure which game Caron Butler (20 points, 10 rebounds) was watching, but afterward, he said, "Guys did some wonderful things out there tonight." And, yes, he was talking about the Wizards, who are starting to give away games right now.

The Wizards continue to repeat the same patterns of getting off to slow starts, falling behind, rallying back, falling behind again, then coming up empty. It's happening so often that those performances should be expected. They trailed at the end of the first quarter for the 10th time this season and are now 1-9 in those situations.

December was supposed to be their month, according to Arenas. But so far, the Wizards are 2-2, losing back-to-back games to two struggling teams.

The Wizards seemed to move closer to the goal after winning four of five games. But these past two losses have proven that the Wizards just are not a good team right now. They have the talent -- or at least the names -- but they still appear to be dealing with a prolonged feeling-out process. Players don't seem to understand their roles or to be willing to accept whatever Saunders is asking of them.

Ugh. Typical Wizards. They fight it and want to play the game 'their way.' Just play the game the way a decent coach wants you to play it, will you? It's not like these guys have this long history of success. Skip Saunders may not be Dr. Naismith, but he'll get you into the playoffs and make you into a tough out.

But no. We want to do it our way. Washington sports fans... We're just sit'n here liv'n the dream, aren't we?

"The team will get better when Blatche and Miller (when healthy) are starting. Flip surely has seen enough by now to know that Jamison and Butler are specialists, best brought off the bench as 6th or 7th men.
Jamison, in particular, seems to wilt at the first sign of physical play this season. Two rebounds from a power forward logging 36+ minutes?

Posted by: 2020doc | December 6, 2009 11:38 PM | Report abuse "

Flip knows that this team is better served having Earl as the PG. Boinkins has really played his way into the starting lineup.

Problem is that you paid Gilby max money, and if you put Gilby at the 2 guard, then what do you do with Foye, Caron, Miller, NY, MeShawn, etc.?

Gilby couldn't stop Stuckey or Will Bynum to save his life. I hope nobody expected Boinkins to either.

Austin Daye came off the bench looking like a 6-11 Reggie Miller.

Jerebko looked like Bill Walton with his 11 boards.

Charlie V., a guy whom I said Les BouleS should have signed, looked like a young Derrick Coleman!!!

They didn't even need Air Gordon to catch fire!!!

Tayshawn and Rip didn't even play!!!!!

Les BouleS lost to the 2nd team masquerading as starters, and couldn't even stop the 3rd team that the Pistons put out!!!

"I'm not sure which game Caron Butler (20 points, 10 rebounds) was watching, but afterward, he said, "Guys did some wonderful things out there tonight." And, yes, he was talking about the Wizards, who are starting to give away games right now."

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I think Butler was just really excited that he led the team in scoring.

Looking at what Jerebko and Wallace did inside points to a big problem with the Wizards inside game. It isn't just that the Wiz lack a legit big man with real low post skills (the Pistons don't really have one either), it's that their big men (other than Oberto) don't seem to know that they lack low post skills. Whenever Jerebko or Wallace grabbed a an offensive board and didn't have an immediate lane for a put back, you didn't see them trying to maneuver themselves into some kind of one-on-one scoring position. If it wasn't there right away they quickly looked to get the ball back to the guards outside. Contrast that to Haywood, Blatche, and McGee, who too frequently attempt to pump fake or dribble their way into creating shots under the boards that aren't really there. Too many guys (and not just the ones up front) are trying to do more than they're capable and not simply playing within themselves.

"Charlie V., a guy whom I said Les BouleS should have signed, looked like a young Derrick Coleman!!!"

Was that a compliment or an insult? Really, it's hard to tell where D.C. is concerned.

this is really frustrating...isn't it? if you are born and raised in wash. d.c. you love the city...it's not perfect (we agree) but it's where you're born and want to take pride in the area that you live...the washington pro franchises (caps excluded) just do not get it...if these teams could become contenders (not champions) just contenders!!! they would have the full support of almost every native washingtonian!! the current roster of the wiz cannot win...it's not about X's and O's...it's about the heart of the current players...they don't want to expend the energy/effort it takes to win when it matters (crunch-time)! it's time for EG to look at his "former" all-stars and determine which one is trade-worthy...i don't know which one but they will not win (playoff games/championships) with all three on the roster. i hope that ernie has come to this conclusion (although if he has it might be to late to get any value for one of the three) these guys cannot perform efficiently together...their window of opportunity has been shut! i personally do not think EG will trade 1 of the 3 even if an excellent offer is made. i think management is stubborn and steadfast about believing they can win with these three "all-stars"...and if they did make a trade it would be like admitting they made a mistake betting on these guys...but you gotta know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em...know when to walk away...know when to run.

The Wizards are Pretenders period. I have never seen a team proclaim how great they are and never produce on the court. They are still talking about what they did 3 years ago. No one seems to want to take on the leadership role. Look at what Gilbert said "the building was cold." Can you imagine Koby, DWade or LeBron saying the building was cold. Man this dude is a joke! Jamison is 33 and washed up! He makes $11,641,095 this season you have to be kidding me. First of all he is an undersized power forward who can't play defense. So if his game is off he has nothing else to bring to the table. His legs look like they are broke. He can't even get into the defensive position.

Let's talk about Gilbert Arenas. He makes $16,192,080 this season. The days of Hibatchi is over. He might be washed up. Do you know how long it takes to come back from knee surgery? He looks like he is loosen confidence as each game passes. He looks like he does not want to be out there. Deep down inside he knows that this is harder than what he expected. Great players redefine their games as there careers go on. He is another one if he does not score points he has nothing else to bring to the table. He is not a true point guard so he can't run the offense nor distribute the ball. He plays no DEFENSE. Remember defense wins championships!

Now Caron Butler (who makes $9,780,970)! What ever happened to Tough Juice? He is used to be a hard nose blue collar player who could play defense. He to looks confused! Maybe they should of traded Butler for Stoudemire during the off season.

The said thing is that you can't trade neither one of them. Who would want them?
Does Ernie really think that they can beat Boston, Cleveland, Orlando, Atlanta and Miami in a 7 game series. It is time to blow this team up. It seems to me that they just want to put enough talent on the court to keep the fans coming to the game.

This team continues to make to many mental mistakes. No Defense!!!!!!!!!!

I AGREE...it's time to move forward but they may have backed themselves into a corner with these heavy "all-star" contracts they have given to players who seem to lose a step daily! who gonna want these guys and who can we get for them? EG is really going to have some "splainin" to do (if he's still here) at the end of the season!!

I also was positive about the season in the begining. I thought the new additions would pick up the slack for the Medium Three, but after a few losses and injuries the DC reality quickly settled in for me.

Okay now, on this blog as recently as one week ago if you call it like it is from what you see on the court they call you fair weather and negative.

There are a few who just come off as hateful and insult players as if they do not like them personally, but other than that I usually read honest critisizims.

The team is average at best. They have been small ball forever and now are just getting a little more athletic. These things to me make it so they can't crush people and depend on lights out shooting.

The team needs aggresive talent, and legs with springs in them. You have to out play people.

Im hoping this "When Healthy" motto was just given a last chance and if things don't drastically improve (and I mean now) that Ernie will begin to aquire more talent.

As I've stressed before, going back years, this is a team and a franchise with very little accountability. Craziness, selfishness (see Gilbert), erratic performance, poor work ethic--it's all been accomodated because the front office is transfixed by this notion that the Big Three will (re)catch fire and will be an offensive juggernaut (and defense will eventually emerge). So, when things go badly, there's nothing for them to fall back on and the coaches are expected to make it all work. The talent is there; the pride and discipline are years away.

In all due respect I can't see where the talent is there. Legitimate NBA talent, yes. How can it be proven that their talent is any better than any other team? What level of talent? On par with the average standards of the league?

The Pistons were the better team. Washington is slow or slow and old (in the case of Jamison) and just not basketball smart. Nothing Flip says is going to dissuade Jamison from lauching threes instead of providing some badly needed inside scoring. Two rebounds for Jamison?
This is not a good team.

I wont be suprised if FLIP resigned by the end of this season not wanting to deal with the diva attitude of arenas and the inability to get maximum efforts on a night in and night out basis from his players.

the excuse: the building was cold..

was extremely immature and ridiculous. im ashamed to be a DC sportsfan with the losers we have playing....one or 2 of that "big three" gotta go. i wouldnt mind seeing arenas gone.

Jamison came out of the blocks great, but he's doing his usual fade even faster than usual as he gets worn down. It's time to start AB and bring AJ off the bench. Trade Butler if he has any value left. How about Butler for Boozer and move AJ to the 3?

Jamison came out of the blocks great, but he's doing his usual fade even faster than usual as he gets worn down. It's time to start AB and bring AJ off the bench. Trade Butler if he has any value left. How about Butler for Boozer and move AJ to the 3?

Why would Utah do that? Even still, what do you do when Boozer walks at the end of the season?

I don't post here often enough to have a thorough feel for this place but it seems to me that many of the fans posting here seem too willing to give up on the team they are supporting. Prior to the season getting underway I recall many predictions of 50 plus wins and now less than twenty games into the campaign many of you want to see the team blown up.

Lest everyone here forget, the Wizards started the season with a new coach (and his 700 page playbook) and their best player coming back from missing the better part of two years due to injury. Just maybe, the team will need a bit of time to gel and fans will just have to be patient with Arenas as he works his way back to full strength. There is plenty of time to panic and to denounce management and the players in the new year, people.

Personally, I do not think that the Wizards are serious contenders for the Eastern Conference title, that said, by the end of the regular season, they are likely to be in the middle of the playoff pack, which is a great deal better than many other teams can say. Given the last thirty years of this franchise, things could be much, much worse.

The Wizards are a very soft team and it showed with the losses against Toronto and Detroit over the weekend, especially considering Detroit was essentially playing without 3 of its starters. Arenas is simply not a leader nor is he the player that he was pre-injury. Saunders is using Boykins to mask the fact that Arenas can't run a real offense and is no longer an explosive threat on a consistent basis.

The issue comes to how to break up the Big 3 now that it is apparent that this is a .500 team that will likely be fighting for the 7th or 8th spot in the playoffs. Butler has the most trade value given Jamison's age and large contract; Arenas is untradeable given his contract and injury history. Butler might yield a player like Boozer that would give the team a legit low post threat, but he would likely leave as a free agent after the season.

It's a tough guandary for Flip who now has to limit Foye's minutes so Arenas can play shooting guard for extended periods. The fact that Boykins is our 'go to guy' in the 4th quarter is downright scary for a team with three supposed All-Stars. Arenas needs to be accountable and say he is not performing up to his prior levels and stop making excuses, alibis, etc. The building was too cold? It didn't seem to affect Stuckey or the other Pistons who were hungry for a win.

If he's supposedly so lost and worthless who would want an extra year of that?

You mean "if" he walks. Money talks. You offer him more money than anybody else.

There's that thing called the salary cap. Arenas is nearly making the max, Boozer is going to want the max or at LEAST what Jamison is making or more. So you're risking getting nothing for him or DRASTICALLY increasing your payroll and having almost 50 million dollars of a possible 54 million dollar payroll tied up in 3 players.

"Charlie V., a guy whom I said Les BouleS should have signed, looked like a young Derrick Coleman!!!"

The problem with young Derrick Coleman, is that he's eventually going to grow up to be an old Derrick Coleman, as in overpaid, overweight and overrated.

Charlie V. did not beat the Wiz single-handedly in the two match-ups. The first game, the Wizards could not close out the game (with Charlie V. on the bench). It is clear that last night's game was lost on account of a lack of effort (or maybe the bus was double-parked).

If he's supposedly so lost and worthless who would want an extra year of that?

The fact that you said "supposedly" indicates that you recognize that others may disagree that he's a lost cause.

There's that thing called the salary cap. Arenas is nearly making the max, Boozer is going to want the max or at LEAST what Jamison is making or more. So you're risking getting nothing for him or DRASTICALLY increasing your payroll and having almost 50 million dollars of a possible 54 million dollar payroll tied up in 3 players. Let alone how are you going to sign Haywood?

Obviously the decision on whether to pay Boozer would have to be made prior to making a trade. Some people, myself included, think that money won't be flowing as freely in free agency as in years past, so what Boozer wants and what he ultimately gets may be vastly different. If he does walk, at least you don't have salary tied up in a player (Butler) who does not appear to fit Flip's system and maybe it gives you flexibility to re-sign Mike Miller. WRT Haywood, and you may disagree, I don't think he is the key to anything moving forward.

There's a lot of talent on this team. It's the coaches job to find ways to utilize it. That ain't happening right now. We're getting outplayed by teams with much lesser talent. Outplayed=outcoached.
I'd say that Flip is walking a fine line and if improvement isn't made in the near future we may be seeing Eddie Tap again.

VBF: You will never see Eddie Tap again(not that you should!)right now this team is conflicted and they are not performing as a cohesive unit, if Earl wasn't here they might be worse, a team with Arenas,Butler,and Jamison is not supposed to lose to bunch of guy's named moe, no disrespect to Detroit but you(Bullets)lost twice to a team w/o Rip and Prince,like i said before Flip hasn't got a grasp on this team yet better hurry cause time is not on our side.

AN needs to be on the floor. He offers a somewhat skilled and athletic presence which is greatly lacking.
The BH ,AJ, CB , GA era is way over. This team is cooked, done!!!
Go young and get whatever you can for the vet all stars, whatever and move on. They are all selfish and worn out, but they are the lastbto know. They are all playing for themselves and stats recognition. No teamwork or working the ball. They are all pathetic defensively. Penetration against them is a foregone conclusion.
They started improved defensively but too many slow footed uninspired players to get any better on D.
Blow it up sooner rather than later!!!!

Coaching is not the problem. Coaching won't fix the best players on the team missing wide open 3 pointers. Coaching won't fix senseless turnovers from veteren players. Coaching won't make guys focus. Players need act like professionals, take pride in their skills and generally man up. If the guys with Allstar talent (Gil, Antawn, Caron) played with the passion they've played with in the past there wouldn't be a problem. Instead, it's the guys like Blatche, Haywood, Boykins who are playing with passion and trying to do too much. When your role players are trying harder than your stars the team is doomed.

The only fault I have with the coach is that he seems unable to motivate the stars. I'd imagine this is something that will take some time, but really shouldn't be necessary.

One of the problem(s) with the Wizards is Earl Boykins. He dribbles WAY too much and dominates the ball. It is impossible for the offensive to flow. The games that he closed out the Wizards were just lucky. Second, if Antwan is struggling Flip Saunders needs to play Blatche in the fourth quarter. Blatche is the only Wizards who helps Haywood rebound and his length also helps on defense.

I think there has to be a trade made. Big 3 is done. Butler has been great the past few seasons, but the way things are working now, he may be on his way out with much interest from other teams.

Posted by: t-train | December 6, 2009 11:54 PM | Report abuse

It's really annoying when people bring up trades without giving specific scenarios. None of the players made available by their teams will help us at the moment. Furthermore, in case you haven't been watching the games, we have NOTHING to offer beside a bunch of overpaid, no defense players.

I continue to be surprised that people are surprised by this team. To say we are 'underachieving' is not correct. The aberration, the outlier, was the 26-16 1st half several years ago. This is the norm. A middling, inconsistent, jumpshooting team that has no real identity.

Around the team, people acted as if Jamison's return was some kind of wonderdrug. He may be a streaky shooter but at least he can't guard 3s or 4s.

If this organization wants to be a half-court squad that executes well, you can't just go completely without any post scoring. It doesn't work. With the current group, we need to run. The issue there is that 'running teams' aren't as successful in the playoffs so we are trying to force a style that doesn't suit us. What's really frustrating is all this nonsense about 'continuity'. Continuity is great if you are the Spurs; not if you are a team with 1 playoff series win in 10 years.

I wont be suprised if FLIP resigned by the end of this season not wanting to deal with the diva attitude of arenas and the inability to get maximum efforts on a night in and night out basis from his players.

the excuse: the building was cold..

was extremely immature and ridiculous. im ashamed to be a DC sportsfan with the losers we have playing....one or 2 of that "big three" gotta go. i wouldnt mind seeing arenas gone.

if u can trade a shaq salary then u can trade an arenas salary.

Posted by: mrhney03 | December 7, 2009 9:07 AM | Report abuse

Yeah, except Shaq's salary had 1 year left and Gil has 5 to the tone of $96 million dollars. I don't see any GM (beside EG who is ours) committing to that.
And no, Flip will not walk at the end of the season, unless you personally decide to pay him the remaining 3 years/$12 million.

First the Redskins under achieve an now the Wiz. Flip needs to shake things up including his 700 page playbook (um...I wonder what Sherm Lewis is doing in January?). Patience is one thing but this is ridiculous. D.C. fans don't deserve this. This brothers interest in hockey has been growing steadily...go CAPS!

When players are in position to succeed and fail due to lack of effort you have to blame the players.

Posted by: jon_quest | December 7, 2009 11:37 AM | Report abuse

maybe it's the coach that's allowing the players to be in the game. i mean i doubt guys go all out in practice just to go through the motions in the games. this is the same effort that Flip gets in practice when he decides whos's playing on a given night. these guys are who they are. the big 3 are comfortable/complacent. i'd like to leave gil out of tha, because i feel like next year will be when u see whether or not he's back to 100%. but even he is playing really uneven lately. the worst part is, i can't think of any trade scenarios that really could benefit the wiz.